I would have literally squealed when I learned New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith graces the cover of Bleu magazine’s winter issue, but I’m sitting at home working, while my apartment is full of repairmen, and coming off as flighty woman isn’t my goal right now. Anyway, enough about me; let’s dish on J.R., one of my favorite players on my favorite basketball team.
Bleu brought out the dapper man that is J.R. to all his fans who know about his prowess on the court, but not necessarily his fly fashion game. In the fashion spread he sports some of the hottest men’s fashion for the late winter/early spring seasons. But J.R. also discusses becoming a rookie at a young age, his brother joining the Knicks, his tattoos, and more in the winter issue of Bleu, which hits newsstands Jan. 8.
Keep clicking for more photos from J.R.’s Bleu shoot and excerpts from the profile.
[Photos: Bleu]
On his love of fashion …
“It’s never an off day for me. Even if you have the frumpiest clothes on and you got swag, you can make that shit look good. In the next three years I want to have my own clothing line.”
On his tattoos …
“I don’t think I was addicted. Addicted is a pretty strong word. If you’re addicted you can’t stop. I can stop whenever I want, I just choose not to.”
On Michael Jordan as his inspiration …
“Jordan is the greatest of all times. He’s one of the reasons why I go so hard and push myself to be the best because I want to be…not better…but just as good.”
On being a rookie …
“Being 17 with 28, 29 and 30 year old basketball players, there was sort of a maturity aspect to it. I had a great opportunity to start earlier than most people. So while a few guys my age are only four or five years in, this is my ninth year. So it really helped impact my maturity level.”
On his brother Chris Smith signing with the Knicks …
“It’s going to be easier for me on the road. When you have seen a group of guys for several months throughout the year, [opposed] to someone who has been there your whole life it’s a totally different situation. I get to play basketball and go to work [with my brother] everyday. So I think it’s going to be real cool.”
